How can I efficiently set up remote access to the live Quickbooks company file from outside the office?
I've got an office network with a Microsoft Small Business Server 2003. The Quickbooks 2008 database server is installed on the server and the clients on the LAN can access it with no problems. We've got two owners and CPA that need to be able to access the live company file from outside the office. Currently, the are remoting into one of the client computers in the office and running Quickbooks on that computer. Sadly, this way is MUCH faster than opening a VPN and accessing the company file over that.
Now the problem with accessing the company file this way is that it ties up one of the office computers, so they can only access the files in the evening when the offices are closed. They really need to be able to access the file anytime, especially during the day.
As a note, I tried a while back to run a virtual desktop on the server to remote into using both Microsoft Virtual PC and Oracle VM Virtualbox. However, I couldn't figure out how to get either to run even when I wasn't logged in.
There has to be a way to access the data from outside the office that isn't too slow to be able to work on.
Please help!
Thanks,
Shane
Now the problem with accessing the company file this way is that it ties up one of the office computers, so they can only access the files in the evening when the offices are closed. They really need to be able to access the file anytime, especially during the day.
As a note, I tried a while back to run a virtual desktop on the server to remote into using both Microsoft Virtual PC and Oracle VM Virtualbox. However, I couldn't figure out how to get either to run even when I wasn't logged in.
There has to be a way to access the data from outside the office that isn't too slow to be able to work on.
Please help!
Thanks,
Shane
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aevegan
Depending on the line speed and the size of the QB database, you may be able to access it remotely using VPN. Although mostly the file size becomes prohibitive and people use the routes desrcibed by the others above. Intuit has a pretty good presentation of QB online now, depending on the office situation, it may be worth looking into. It's no different than any other SaaS and you don't have to worry about data protection, accessibility, or upgrades.
ASKER
Yeah, I suspected as much. I was just hoping that maybe some one would have a magical solution that I hadn't come up with. Thanks for everyone's input. I'm going to give the virtualization another try and check out 2x. I'll respond with the results and close the question in a day or two.
ASKER
2x and a spare computer to remote into are my options. I still have not been successful implementing 2x but I believe it will work well. Thanks everyone. Sorry for not closing sooner.